Health and fitness trade show Elevate has beaten a number of organisations to pick up a gong at the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Awards 2017.

The show, which is dedicated to the promotion of physical activity, was recognised as the Best Trade Show Under 2,000sq m.

It was chosen by judges ahead seven rival entries, including the Insight Show 2017 and the Conference and Hospitality Show 2016.

According to its organisers, Elevate is the “largest exhibition focused on tackling physical inactivity”, with more than 4,000 attendees, 143 exhibitors and 209 speakers.

The show originally launched in Kensington Olympia in 2016, but moved to the ExCeL London in 2017 to cope with higher demand.

As a result the show grew by “65 per cent”, and hosted speakers such as Steve Gray, the chief executive of Nuffield Health, Dr. Hannah Macleod, field hockey gold medalist at the Rio Olympic Games, and Steve Ward, CEO of ukactive.

Ward said: "If you are going to get more people, more active, more often and improve the health of the nation, we need to the broadest possible coalition of partners, and that is what Elevate is all about."

Elevate’s founder, Max Quittenton, added: “Receiving acclamation from event industry professionals of the highest level, shows that we have created something special and we can’t wait to push the boundaries even further next year."

Elevate is the UK’s largest physical activity trade event. Held annually Elevate brings the physical activity sector together with those working in performance and health to tackle one of the most important challenges of our time: tackling physical inactivity.
“The importance of the event, Elevate, is to bring together the fitness industry, the technology industry, the healthcare sector and the really important people - who are the practitioners who promote physical activity - and give them a sound bed of evidence to take away and use in their everyday lives. New equipment, new ideas, new energy.” Prof. Charlie Foster, World Health Organisation and Oxford University.